Colorado-Real-Estate-Journal_340426

Page 30 — Multifamily Properties Quarterly — May 2023 www.crej.com Affordable Housing T he National Institutes of Health says “a traumatic brain injury can be caused by a forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, or from an object that pierces the skull and enters the brain.” Current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that over 200,000 people suffer from TBI each year, and about 175 people die per day in America from TBI. From an article in the Greeley Tribune on March 15: “Colorado ranks ninth in the nation for fatalities due to a TBI and 13th in the nation for hospitalizations due to a TBI. Almost 5,000 individu- als are hospitalized and nearly 1,000 die due to a TBI in Colorado each year. There are 23,500 emergency room visits each year due to a TBI. Each year, 2,200 individuals contin- ue to experience disability one year after hospitalization for a TBI.” Other data from the CDC shows that falls are the most common cause of TBIs and occur most fre- quently among the youngest and oldest age groups. Other causes include blunt trauma accidents that involve being struck by or against an object, particularly sports-related injuries, vehicle-related injuries – accidents involving pedestrians, motor vehicles and bicycles, abuse- related TBIs from domestic violence or shaken baby syndrome, and gun- shot wounds to the head and explo- sions/blast – trauma from roadside bombs became a common injury to service members in military con- flicts. The majority of these TBIs are classified as mild head injuries. The size, sever- ity and location of the TBI dictate how it is treated and how quickly a person might recover. A critical element to a per- son's prognosis is the severity of the injury. Although brain injury often occurs at the moment of head impact, much of the damage relat- ed to severe TBI develops from secondary injuries that happen days or weeks after the initial trauma. For this reason, peo- ple who receive immediate medi- cal attention at a certified trauma center tend to have the best health outcomes. People with severe TBI will gen- erally require acute care and in- hospital treatment, often followed by transfer to a rehabilitation cen- ter, such as Craig Hospital, where a multidisciplinary team of health care providers delivers therapy aimed at improving the person's ability to handle activities of daily living and to address cognitive, physical, occupational and emo- tional difficulties. Treatment may be needed on a short-term basis or throughout a person's life. Depending on the severity of the injury and degree of recovery, some can resume a normal life; others require long-term care and special- ized supportive services, including housing designed to accommodate the cognitive challenges created by their TBI. In Colorado, Adeo in Greeley and Brothers Redevelopment in Denver have developed such housing. Adeo (pronounced ah-DAY-oh, Latin for “to this point,” or “so far”) is a nonprofit founded in 1977 as The Greeley Center for Indepen- dence by the late Hope Cassidy as an all-volunteer organization sup- porting her belief that everyone should have the opportunity to live as full a life as possible, regardless of ability. The first project developed was a 31-unit apartment commu- nity now called Hope Apartments at Adeo. It is in downtown Greeley on a bus line near shopping, medical facilities and recreation. The apart- ments were designed to be fully accessible to people with physical disabilities, and residents receive services and care from Adeo staff and other community organiza- tions. They are going to be renovat- ed in August with design features for those with TBI. Adeo developed the only warm-water therapy pool in Northern Colorado and in 2004, became one of the first four orga- nizations in Colorado to create a Supportive Living Program for adult survivors of brain injury that offers affordable, accessible hous- ing along with 24/7 staff support. Stephens Farm at Adeo consists of 18 studio apartments and common areas for recreation and dining. Ten of the units are dedicated to people with TBI who are either homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. All the units incorporate Housing for people with traumatic brain injuries R unning errands around Broomfield together, it is not uncommon for Susanne and Randy Eck’s adult daughter, Jennifer, to see an apartment complex being built and turn to her parents and ask if she can live there someday by herself, just like her brother. Jennifer is 29 years old and was diagnosed with autism when she was 3. Jennifer dreams of moving into her own apartment and living independently. She talks of watch- ing Broncos games with her neigh- bors, enjoying community potlucks and being part of a community with people like herself. Unfortunately, housing options that meet Jennifer’s financial means and life circumstanc- es are rare. Creating housing options to meet the diverse housing needs of the Broomfield community, and resi- dents like Jennifer, is precisely why the Broomfield Housing Alliance was established. Faced with the same rising hous- ing costs and housing supply short- ages as other communities, the city and county of Broomfield approved creation of a separate, independent housing authority board in 2021 to leverage the resources needed to increase housing options for Broom- field residents. Under the trade name Broomfield Housing Alliance, BHA is committed to the creation of abundant, attainable, inclusive and sustainable housing that gives each Broomfield resident the opportunity to thrive. This mission is driven by the goal of assuring that no residents of Broomfield have their chance to thrive diminished by the lack of access to safe and affordable housing. According to the Broomfield Hous- ing Needs Data Update prepared by Root Policy Research (2023), Broomfield has a 1,700-unit shortage of homes affordable to rent- ers earning up to $50,000 per year. While this rental gap pertains to the general population, it is acutely felt by the 5,612 Broom- field residents who live with intellectu- al or developmental disabilities. While Broomfield’s poverty rate is relatively low at 4%, persons with disabilities are disproportionately impacted with a poverty rate of 9%. The general lack of affordable housing options is exacerbated for persons with disabili- ties, who often live on fixed incomes and face institutional barriers that threaten economic security and limit opportunities for upward mobility. In early 2022 BHA was introduced to a group of parents and community advocates associated with Friends of Broomfield working hard to find long- term housing options where persons, and in most-cases their family mem- bers with I/DD, could safely live and thrive independently in Broomfield. Energized by the passion and frustra- tions of these parents, BHA moved forward to realize a vision of a neuro- inclusive community in the heart of Broomfield. As one of its first actions in 2022, BHA purchased four vacant, adjoining parcels (1.85 acres) centrally located in Broomfield. While ownership of the land has changed hands over the years, the intention for this site, dat- ing back to the original platting of the neighborhood, has always been to offer housing to meet the needs of persons with I/DD. This legacy is rein- forced by the site’s neighbors – Bal Swan Children’s Center, which offers a neuro-inclusive and equitable learn- ing environment; and Glory Home, an affordable co-housing home for inde- pendent older adults that is owned and managed by Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. Following the purchase, BHA was fortunate to be selected by the Colo- rado Housing and Finance Author- ity to receive a Small-Scale Housing Technical Assistance Grant. This grant provided funding to complete feasibility and market studies, as well as provide access to a technical assistance team, including architec- tural and affordable housing finance consultants (respectively, Tim Reinen and Mary Coddington). Because of CHFA’s specific interest in serving the needs of individuals with I/DD, the grant also provided consultation with Desiree Kameka Galloway, a neuro- inclusive-development consultant. Through the market study, techni- cal analysis and community engage- ment, the TA team confirmed the need for a neuro-inclusive housing community in Broomfield and iden- tified the potential (density, design, unit mix, amenities) for the site to yield upward of 40 units of rental housing. This solidified a vision for a neuro-inclusive residential commu- nity designed to meet the needs of residents with I/DD and neurotypical residents. In early 2023, BHA selected Cad- dis Collaborative to guide the project through the design development and entitlement process. The entitlement process is anticipated to last the remainder of 2023. Being its first foray into development, BHA has released a request for proposals to partner with and learn from a co-developer. BHA anticipates applying in 2024 for 9% low-income housing tax credits. While the project financing is cur- rently being secured, it is anticipated the mix of funds will include HUD Home-ARP funds, Colorado Division of Housing grants, owner equity, Property Tax Mill Levy Allocation and Housing Choice Vouchers. While BHA and its partners are several years away from seeing the first home occupied, the vision and passion is here to create homes for Broomfield residents like Jennifer, who someday soon will move in and host her first Broncos watch party! To learn more about Broomfield Housing Alliance and the Cottonwood project, visit www.broomfieldhousin- galliance.org s khyser@broomfieldhousingalliance.org Cottonwood: BHA aims to build inclusive housing Rodger Hara Principal, Community Builders Realty Services Kristin Hyser Executive director, Broomfield Housing Alliance Please see Hara, Page 42 Valor on the Fax was designed by Shopworks Architects with trauma-informed design principles in all aspects. Cottonwood stakeholders